Cricket great and committed father

TRIBUTE

Api Leka’s earthly innings come to an end

By Rev SEIK PITOI
LOVING, caring, strong, disciplinarian, flamboyant, master tactician”. These were some of the words used at the funeral service on Wednesday July 21, 2021, to describe the late Apikune Leka.
He was father and grandfather, a loving husband, all-round sportsman, committed church elder and an excellent administrator. On Tuesday, July 13, the Heavenly Umpire declared Api’s earthly innings over after 69 years at life’s crease!
Much has been said and written in both dailies about this tremendous personality which will not be repeated here. I instead will share a personal account of my acquaintance with him. However, from the sports world, many sportsmen have paid tribute to him for his prowess on the Aussie Rules and cricket fields.
His best friends and mentees gave wonderful insights into his life. Greats of both codes in the likes of Taunao Vai, Navu Maha ,Rarua Dikana, William Maha and High Commissioner (to Canberra) John Kali (by letter) recalled those special moments when they played with him in overseas representative games, or against him in inter-club competitions. Each spoke about his dedication and commitment as a player and then as captain, leading from the front with passion.
On a personal level, his sons Hudson and Richard gave humorous but touching accounts of their father – strict as a disciplinarian, yet always loving and caring for his children’s welfare. They talked about their late mother, Ute, Api’s lifelong love and companion, whose passing two years ago greatly affected their father. His grandson and namesake, Api Jr, spoke of Senior Api being “my grandfather and my best friend” as he had spent the most time with him at home. When sent to Australia for medical treatment, Api chose his grandson to accompany him.
“Out of the whole family, my grandfather chose me to escort him. I went not only as his grandson but also as his doctor”, the young man recalled. This was because he was responsible for administering treatment to his grandfather at the set times!
Api demonstrated to his children the fruits of hard work and perseverance when he attained his university degree through part time study as he worked. Then, when granted a scholarship to do his master’s degree overseas, he took his family with him. At each point in life, Api taught his kids that good things in life come through sheer hard work! Richard said their father taught them “not just to sing the praises of other people”, but to excel in their own lives as well!

Apart from being a sportsman, Api was also a committed Christian. Hudson revealed that their father had a life changing encounter that altered the direction of their family forever. “Dad accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour during the tour to England”, he said! Only God could have sovereignly planned Api’s salvation in an overseas country, while playing the game of cricket! Api served in senior church leadership in the United Church for nearly three decades. He served most of his life at his little church, the Sister Fairhall Memorial Church (SFMC), Gordons.
I had the honour of serving with him while a minister there from 2015 to 2017. He was my chairman, and a no-nonsense administrator at that! I saw Api as a man of principle, resolute and firm, yet generous at heart. Those sentiments were also echoed by his current minister, Rev Percy Rarua, and by SFMC chairman, Koupa Kila who described him as “a strong man who always stood by his decisions.” Indeed, there were countless occasions when I saw those attributes in him.
One time, a drunk taxi driver drove his taxi into our church fence, shortly after the men’s ministry had finished erecting it. The taxi broke the fence, crashed into a tree and stopped. The driver ran off. Police were called in and the incident was reported.
But when the owners came to retrieve their vehicle, Api decided we impound it until they paid for the damages to our fence. Despite their excuses, Api stood his ground. He never backed out until they paid something to the church. There again I witnessed the strength of character of this leader. He was not loud and aggressive but was unafraid and spoke calmly and with authority!

Generosity
Api and wife Ute were among the most generous people I have met. That generosity runs in their children as well.
It was Dec 25, 2015 – Christmas day! I was awakened by a telephone call from my cousin telling me that my mum had passed away in the village. I immediately rang Api and informed him. Being a Sunday, he told me to take the day off to attend to my family situation while he took charge of the church service. Later, that day, he assisted me with ‘hauskrai’ arrangements.

The generosity and compassion he and his wife showed to me and my family was overwhelming. After mum’s funeral which I conducted at the church, we took the body home. Api and Ute, and Ute’s sister Elizabeth and husband Manu Tau followed us all the way to Gabagaba.
Despite my objections because of the distance, Api insisted that they come with us. They sat up with us, singing the famous traditional “ute” as well as hymns in their language. They left us to drive back to the city at midnight. That gesture in itself spoke volumes about the compassion he had.
But Api was also firm. Aware that he himself was not flawless, he always spoke to me in a gracious and fatherly way, even to point out areas where I needed to change. One time, after a disagreement, he allowed me to talk until I stopped and then he said: “Rev, you are very good, articulate and sharp. You have a lot of good qualities. But you are impatient. Try to learn to be patient”! Ouch! I was really annoyed with that and wanted to tell him so. But it got me thinking. Maybe he was right. Of course, I needed to take it easy a bit. Sensing my dilemma, he diplomatically added: “We all need to work on ourselves a bit more”! To that, I agreed.
In his remaining months, Api remained a dedicated member of the SFMC men’s ministry, attending all their meetings even at the circuit level. In the last combined session at Hohola, he encouraged the menfolk to “use your young men, give them opportunities to take on positions of responsibility. That will help raise their confidence.” As a father, Api always sought ways to encourage the younger generation.

Fitting tribute
At his funeral, Richard read out a lovely tribute he had penned for his father. Using typical cricket lingo, Richard wrote: “Hold that old Duncan Fearnley in the air, raise that bat as we assemble around you for that farewell salute. That standing ovation so resounding, it reverberates. That old cotton hat fashioned with soaking sweat, creasing grass stains taken off to acknowledge your milestone. Unstrap your pads and gloves and give those tired legs and hands a rest!”
Indeed, after an excellent innings of service to the nation, sports, family and the church, it was certainly time to give those ‘tired legs and hands a rest’. Apikune Leka was laid to rest besides his beloved late wife, Ute, at his Keapara village, Central. He is survived by their children Salome, Hudson, Richard, Kila and Shuna, with their spouses and children.
May he rest in God’s eternal peace!

• Rev Seik Pitoi is a freelance writer.